Micro-electromechanical sensor
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A device, comprising:
- a substrate configured to act as a first electrode of a capacitor;
a resilient element, configured to act as a second electrode of the capacitor, at least a first portion of which is secured at a position spaced from the substrate by a predetermined gap;
a layer of dielectric material disposed between the substrate and the resilient element, said layer having a thickness corresponding to said predetermined gap; and
a spacing member configured to separate a second portion of the resilient element from the substrate by a distance greater than said predetermined gap to define an effective electrode area of the capacitor corresponding to an area wherein the substrate and resilient element are separated by said predetermined gap, the effective electrode area chancing in response to movement of the resilient element relative to the substrate and resulting in a change in capacitance of the capacitor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A force or pressure transducer is disclosed. In one embodiment, the transducer has a substrate, a dielectric material disposed on the substrate, a spacing member disposed on the dielectric material, and a resilient element disposed on the dielectric material and the spacing member. A portion of the resilient element is separated from the dielectric material, and a portion of the resilient element is in contact with the dielectric material. The contact area between the resilient element and the dielectric material varies in response to movement of the resilient element. Changes in the contact area alter the capacitance of the transducer, which can be measured by circuit means.
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Citations
43 Claims
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1. A device, comprising:
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a substrate configured to act as a first electrode of a capacitor; a resilient element, configured to act as a second electrode of the capacitor, at least a first portion of which is secured at a position spaced from the substrate by a predetermined gap; a layer of dielectric material disposed between the substrate and the resilient element, said layer having a thickness corresponding to said predetermined gap; and a spacing member configured to separate a second portion of the resilient element from the substrate by a distance greater than said predetermined gap to define an effective electrode area of the capacitor corresponding to an area wherein the substrate and resilient element are separated by said predetermined gap, the effective electrode area chancing in response to movement of the resilient element relative to the substrate and resulting in a change in capacitance of the capacitor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A device, comprising:
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a substrate configured to act as a first electrode of a capacitor; a resilient element, at least a portion of which is secured at a position spaced from the substrate by a predetermined gap, configured to act as a second electrode of the capacitor; and a spacing member disposed between the substrate and resilient element supporting a portion of the resilient element at a distance from the substrate greater than said predetermined gap to define an effective electrode area of the capacitor corresponding to an area wherein the substrate and resilient element are separated by said predetermined gap, the effective electrode area changing in response to movement of the resilient element relative to the substrate and resulting in a change in capacitance of the capacitor. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A device comprising;
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a substrate configured to act as a first electrode of a capacitor, a spacing member disposed on the substrate; and a resilient element configured to act as a second electrode of the capacitor, said resilient element tensioned over said spacing member and secured with the substrate, a portion of said resilient element being spaced from the substrate at a predetermined distance to define an effective capacitance area that varies in response to movement of said resilient element such that a capacitance change effected by said movement may be sustained between said substrate and resilient element. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35)
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36. A device, comprising:
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a substrate configured to act as a first electrode of a capacitor; a resilient element, a first portion of which is spaced from the substrate by a predetermined gap, said resilient element configured to act as a second electrode of the capacitor; and a spacing member disposed between the substrate and resilient element supporting a second portion of the resilient element at a distance from the substrate greater than said predetermined gap to define an effective electrode area of the capacitor corresponding to said first portion, the spacing member being configured and dimensioned such that the resilient member is tensioned thereover and the effective electrode area changes in response to movement of the resilient element relative to the substrate resulting in a change of capacitance. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 41, 42)
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40. A device, comprising:
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a substrate configured to act as a first electrode of a capacitor; a layer of dielectric material disposed on the substrate; a resilient element disposed on the layer of dielectric material and configured to act as a second electrode of the capacitor; and a spacing member configured and dimensioned to separate a portion of the resilient element from the layer of dielectric material to define a first contact area between the resilient element and the layer of dielectric material and such that the resilient element is tensioned thereover, the contact area changing in response to movement of the resilient element relative to the substrate and resulting in a change in capacitance of the capacitor.
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43. A device, comprising:
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a substrate configured to act as a first electrode of a capacitor; a resilient element, a first portion of which is spaced from the substrate by a predetermined gap, said resilient element configured to act as a second electrode of the capacitor; a layer of dielectric material is disposed on the resilient element between said resilient element and the substrate, said layer of dielectric material having a thickness corresponding to said predetermined gap and being secured to the substrate over said first portion; and a spacing member disposed between the substrate and said layer of dielectric material supporting a second portion of said layered dielectric material and the resilient element at a distance from the substrate greater than said predetermined gap to define a minimum effective electrode area of the capacitor corresponding to said first portion, the spacing member being configured and dimensioned such that the resilient member is tensioned thereover and the effective electrode area changes in response to movement of the resilient element relative to the substrate resulting in a change of capacitance.
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Specification